SAS receives Compensation and Orders New Aircraft for Fleet Replacement

SAS has agreed a settlement with Bombardier and Goodrich regarding the incidents involving the Dash aircraft in the autumn of 2007. The details of the agreement are confidential but SAS Group confirmed the total financial compensation is slightly more than SEK 1 billion in the form of a cash payment and credits for future firm and optional aircraft orders. As part of the agreement, the Board of Directors of SAS AB has approved an order for 27 aircraft, with an option for a further 24 aircraft.

The new aircraft to be delivered by Bombardier will be jet aircraft of the type CRJ900 NextGen and turboprop aircraft of the type Q400 NextGen and they will replace the earlier operated Q400-fleet and other aircraft within the SAS Group.

Scandinavian Airlines and Estonian Air will use the CRJ900 NextGen, and Wideroe and airBaltic will use the Q400 NextGen. Deliveries of the aircraft will be made successively in the next few years, commencing in the autumn of 2008 until 2011.

"We are very satisfied with the settlement with Bombardier, a leading manufacturer of regional aircraft. The firm order for 27 aircraft will bring a rejuvenated premium product to our customers. The CRJ900 and Q400 NextGen aircraft are well-suited to our operations in Northern Europe, where our customers expect comfortable and environmentally friendly travel," said SAS President and CEO Mats Jansson.

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